The Healthy Start Vitamin Scheme Product Manufacture of Children's Vitamins (Lot 2)

The Secretary of State for Health is obliged to make available free vitamins to eligible recipients.

This obligation is discharged by the Department of Health (DH) via the Healthy Start Scheme.

Recipients are eligible pregnant women and new mothers who receive vitamins containing vitamins C, D and folic acid and eligible children from birth who receive vitamins containing vitamins A,C and D.

DH (via NHS Business Services Authority) sells the vitamins to local authorities and NHS providers in England who then distribute the vitamins to recipients.

DH is also procuring this requirement on behalf of NHS Northern Ireland, [and] NHS Scotland [and NHS Wales].

It is possible but it is not guaranteed or represented that DH or NHS Business Services Authority may elect to sell vitamins to non-public sector bodies during the term of the framework agreements.

DH has procured a suitable provider to manufacture the children's vitamins.

DH has allowed for full product testing of the manufactured Products by the supplier(s) in the first year of the Framework Period, during which time no orders for vitamins may be placed by a contracting authority There will be no separate costs to deliver full Product testing and implementation activities during the first year of the Framework Period.

Costs for this activity should be included in the overall pricing for the Product.

The Authority reserves the right to terminate the framework agreement prior to the operational start date if the awarded supplier fails to meet the testing requirements in the first year of the Framework Period.

The form of agreement for each lot is a framework agreement.

Orders may last beyond the term of each framework agreement.

The Authority does not guarantee, warrant or represent that any Orders will be issued pursuant to either framework agreement.